who is responsible if you hit a house on a golf course?

Full Answer

Who is responsible if a golfer hits a golf ball at home?

However, if the golfer intentionally or recklessly hits a ball at a home/car, then the golfer may be responsible. Also, there may be rules that members of golf clubs consent to be bound by that contractually put responsibility for damage on the golfer regardless of responsibility under tort law. Check the golf course rules.

Can a golfer be held liable for hitting your house?

But, you don't assume that a golfer will take extraordinary risks that place your property in jeopardy. For example, if a golfer tries to cut across a corner by hitting the ball over your house, a shot not usually part of the game of golf, the golfer could be liable if the shot was short and landed in your window.

Should golfers be held responsible for their actions on the course?

She has grown accustomed to the sounds of golf balls hitting her building and now her window. “Golfers should be responsible for the actions, but the golf course should be held accountable, as well,” she said.

Who is responsible for personal property damage caused by golfers?

The law varies from state to state and often on a case by case basis. Some courts believe that the golfer is always responsible for any damage he/she causes to personal property while golfing.

Are golfers liable for property damage?

In most cases if you ask the golfer, he will say it is the homeowner and should be covered on their homeowners insurance. In other cases if you ask the homeowner he will say the golfer is responsible. You also have to catch the golfer! There is clear California case law on these points of law.

Who is at fault if a golfer hits a house?

You break a window, you pay for it. The flip side of that coin is that homeowners should bear responsibility for golf ball damage since they assumed obvious risk by deciding to purchase a home near a golf course. Additionally, homeowner's insurance may handle the damage.

Who is responsible if you break a window on a golf course?

While the golfer who broke your window should own up and take responsibility, she is not legally responsible for the damage if she was otherwise playing normally. Golfers need to take ordinary care when playing, but sometimes even the best golfers will hit a wild shot.

What happens if a golf ball hits my house?

The big question is who's liable to pay for those damages: the homeowner, the golf course or neither. It's called “errant golf ball liability” when a stray golf ball hits someone's window or causes other damages unintentionally, WMBF reported.

Who is responsible for errant golf shot?

After researching the topic, I came to a fairly clear legal conclusion: A golfer is generally not liable for injuries or damages due to an errant shot by the golfer, except in situations in which the golfer is negligent, reckless, or acting with intent.

Does insurance cover golf ball damage?

“Since damage from golf balls is incredibly common, you have a few options, including coverage through your Progressive policy. If you were parked on the golf course's property, they may cover the damage. Some golf courses have liability insurance in place to help protect patron's property from damage.

Does homeowners insurance cover broken windows from golf balls?

Am I Responsible for Covering Any Damage Caused by the Golf Ball? Technically it would be your homeowners insurance company that's responsible for covering the damage. According to insurance expert Paul Martin, it would only be your responsibility to cover the cost of your policy's deductible out of your own pocket.

Is a golfer liable for hitting a car?

Most likely, you will need to file a claim on your car insurance policy under comprehensive coverage if your vehicle is damaged at a baseball stadium or golf course. You probably will not know who caused the damage, and the stadium or course will not accept liability.

What is a moose in golf?

Golf Moose is a website and mobile app that helps golfers save on golf.

Is it good to live near a golf course?

In addition to having your next round of golf right outside your door, living on a golf course often affords views of sprawling green vistas. Even if golf isn't your game, the benefits of living in a golfing community may be something worth considering.

Who is responsible for damage caused by a golf ball in Florida?

Who is Liable if a Golf Ball Causes Damage? Another general concern is damage that may be done by errant golf balls. Generally speaking, the golf club, the builder, and the course designer are usually protected from liability from golf ball damage in the same documents described above.

Is a golf course liable for damage in California?

Golf is a legal activity when performed in the appropriate place (e.g. a golf course); golfers and the golf course are only liable for damage if they were at fault, which means being unreasonably careless or acting in a deliberately wrongful fashion.

Smidd4

Curious on your thoughts here. My home course has signs saying "You are responsible for damage caused by your shot". I am just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to hitting and errant shot from time to time (some rounds more often than not) and if I hit a house I always go over and check for damage to make sure I don't owe anyone a new window.

Patch

IMHO the golfer is responsible should they hit a house or a person, and cause harm or damage. To me this falls under the etiquette part of golf. The house is already there, and the golfer should know enough about their game to know better.

Patch

I am of the opinion that golfers who think it's the home owners problem better hope they have alot golfers on their jury panel should it get that far.

Pendragon

I live in a gated community in California where there are lots of homes on the course. As Shindig noted above, the homeowner is liable unless it can be proven that you were deliberately trying to hit the house. I've seen a few heated arguments where the homeowner isn't familiar with the law, but the golfer is not liable.

ghalfaire

This has been discussed on earlier thread. I am not a lawyer but do know the home owner assumes the liability for errant shots' damage to the home if they live on a golf course.

jkelley9

Wow, this is quite shocking to me.

Posts

Haha now I’m just a broke adult! I actually never played baseball at all. I played basketball. That’s just how my swing has always been. It’s just what I naturally did, probably trying to swing too hard.

Who is responsible for hitting a golf ball at home?

However, if the golfer intentionally or recklessly hits a ball at a home/car, then the golfer may be responsible. Also, there may be rules that members of golf clubs consent to be bound by that contractually put responsibility for damage on the golfer regardless of responsibility under tort law. Check the golf course rules.

What happens if you live on a golf course?

If you live on a golf course, you assume risk. Contact your insurance agent to see if your personal liability coverage on your homeowner’s insurance would pay for “damage to property of others.”. There will be a dollar limit stated in your policy.

Does insurance cover golf balls?

Many courses and near-by buildings do have insurance in place to cover it, so check that as well if the issue cannot be resolved. If your home or car is hit and you are in the position of not knowing who hit the golf ball, you can ask the golf course if their insurance will pay for your damages, but typically this would be excluded.

Does comprehensive insurance cover damage?

Comprehensive coverage will normally cover damage . You will need to pay the deductible associated with this coverage There are several ways you can protect yourself from getting hit in the pocketbook. It is advisable that before you buy, look at where the house is in relation to the hole.

Is golfer responsible for homeowners insurance?

In most cases if you ask the golfer, he will say it is the homeowner and should be covered on their homeowners insurance. In other cases if you ask the homeowner he will say the golfer is responsible. You also have to catch the golfer! There is clear California case law on these points of law.

What happens when you buy a house on a golf course?

When you buy a house on a golf course you agree to assume certain risks associated with the property, such as the possibility that a golf ball may break one of your windows. For the golfer to be responsible, you will have to show that he has done something that you would not ordinarily expect from a reasonable golfer.

What happens if a golfer breaks a window?

If one of those errant shots breaks your window, the golfer has no liability. But, you don't assume that a golfer will take extraordinary risks that place your property in jeopardy. For example, if a golfer tries to cut across a corner by hitting the ball over your house, a shot not usually part of the game of golf, ...

Is a tree falling onto another's property a liability?

A: As a general rule, a person is not responsible for damage caused when a tree falls onto another's property. This is because liability is based on negligence and, in most cases, when a tree falls it was an act of God and not the fault of the property owner.

Why is it so hard to win a case against a golfer who hits a ball at another person?

Generally, cases against golfers who hit an errant ball at another person are difficult to win because the risk of hitting another player or a spectator or a walker must be reasonably foreseeable.

Who makes the rules for golf in the UK?

The Royal and Ancient, who make the rules for golf in the UK, states on the back of its tickets that spectators assume all risks and whilst disclaimers against responsibility for personal injury are not always enforceable, the warning is there. Return to news headlines.

Do golf courses have rights of way?

Many golf courses have public rights of way through them, or even public roads where people might drive their cars or cycle and there are usually clear rules and/ or warning signs on the course itself and on scorecards saying that players must wait for walkers to clear the fairway before hitting the ball. Failure to do so would create ...

Do golf courses have to protect themselves?

Golf courses will need to protect themselves from being potentially liable if they do not make course specific rules where there is a foreseeable risk of injury.

Can you hit a golf ball into a garden?

No golfer intends to hit a ball onto another fairway or out of bounds into a person’s garden and so the golfer, depending on ability, has a reasonable expectation that the ball will travel more or less where it is intended to go subject to some deviation within that 30 degree cone.

Is the risk of being hit by a ball implicit in the role of ball spotting taken on by Mr

The court added that the risk of being hit by a ball was implicit in the role of ball spotting taken on by Mr McMahon. Essentially, each case is likely to be judged on its own merits.

Did the claimant hit the golfer on the head?

Two of the other golfers with the claimant took cover, but the claimant did not and he was hit on the head. The judge said the shot was, by the player’s own admission, a bad one, and took the view that the player should have waited before playing the shot given the presence of the claimant. For any case to be successful a bad golf shot must still ...